Autism-like behaviors reversed in mice: New hope for understanding autism

English: diagram showing how the translation of the mRNA and the synthesis of proteins is made by ribosomes. Français : Diagramme montrant comment la traduction de l'ARN messager et la synthèse protéique se font dans les ribosomes. Légendes en anglais. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Regulation of protein synthesis, also termed mRNA translation, is the process by which cells manufacture proteins. This mechanism is involved in all aspects of cell and organism function. A new study in mice has found that abnormally high synthesis of a group of neuronal proteins called neuroligins results in symptoms similar to those diagnosed in ASD. The study also reveals that autism-like behaviors can be rectified in adult mice with compounds inhibiting protein synthesis, or with gene-therapy targeting neuroligins. Their results are published in the journal Nature.